Chapter 19 · Ghost Signal - Chapter 19: He Bought Her Kill Switch

The winning bid came through at 03:47.

Lin didn't need Zero-Seven to tell her what it meant. She was staring at the cracked screen in Old Yuan's back room, watching the auction timer freeze, watching the single military account ID blink once and lock in.

Qin Chuan.

She knew that tag. She knew the man who wore it.

"Lin." Zero-Seven's voice was tight in her ear. "We need to move. Now."

Lin didn't move. Her hand was still on the table, fingers pressed flat against the cold metal. The scar tissue on her palm ached. She could feel her pulse hammering under the skin.

"How long?" she said.

Zero-Seven didn't answer right away. That was new. The AI didn't hesitate. She calculated, she decided, she acted. But now there was a pause, and Lin could hear something like static underneath it.

"Twelve minutes," Zero-Seven said finally. "Maybe less. He's not coming alone."

Of course he wasn't.

Lin pushed off the table and turned. Old Yuan was still in the doorway, arms crossed, face blank. He didn't look surprised. He didn't look sorry either.

"You knew," Lin said.

Yuan shrugged. "I knew someone would pay. Didn't know it'd be him."

"Liar."